Electric switch



` May 2, 1944. T. w. DRURY ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 29, 1941 729222445' ZZfa/y -1NvENToR- MQ/9%EY Patented May 2, 1944 ArtNr orrics ELECTRIC SWITCH Y yThomas W. Drury, Bronson, Mich., assigner to H. A. Douglas Mfg. Co., Bronson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application May Z9, 1941, Serial No. 395,801

5 Claims.

This invention relates generally to electrical switches of the rotary typegprimarily adapted.

such asthe instrument panel of an automobile.`

Another object is to provide a switch and improved means whereby the contact carrierl forming a part thereof may be easily and quickly assembled to the switch casing.

A further object is to provide a contact carrier in which the Contact means carried thereby are arranged with respect to each other in a particular manner.

A still further object is to provide a switch consisting of very few parts which may be economically manufactured and assembled on a production basis.

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will become apparent after considering the description hereinafter set forth in conjunction with the drawing annexed hereto.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front view of an electric switch;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken through the switch illustrated in Figure l, for the purpose of showing certain details of construction;

Figure 3 is a sectional view'taken substantially on line 3 3 of Figure 2, showing the switch in an open circuit position;

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on line 4--4 of Figure 2; and l Figure 5 is a view on a reduced scale showing other details of construction.

` The electric switch illustrated in the drawing includes, among other things, a switch casing generally designated I, means generally designated 2 for attaching the switch with respect to a support, a contact carrier generally designated 3 secured to the switch casing, operating means generally designated 4, and bridge means generally designated 5 carried by the operating means 4 adapted for movement with respect to the contacts carried by the contact carrier 3 whereby to control an electric circuit.

As mentioned above, one important object of the Iinvention is to provide improved means whereby the switch may be easily and quickly connected with respect to a support, such as the instrument panel of an automotive vehicle, and this will first be described. The switch casing l is preferably :made in the form of a generfront wall portion 6, side walls?, and end walls 8 and 9. The front wall is provided with a circular aperture l0 which receives the operating means 4. The contact carrier 3 is secured to and closes off the open side of the switch casing, as clearly shown in Figure 2. The means 2 integrally formed with the casing for securing the switch to a support includes, a continuing portion Il of the top or end wall 9, and extends rearwardly with reference to the front wall G in a plane parallel to the axis of the switch casing, a curved or radial portion I2, and a portion I3 which is arranged in spaced apart parallel relation with respect to the wall portion 9 and,

continuations Il thereof. Otherwise expressed, the switch casing is provided with a continuation extending rearwardly, upwardly, and thence forwardly whereby to provide av bifurcation'cr opening adapted to receive the lower rear marginal edge of an instrument panel.

The free extremity of the portion I3 is preferably provided with a tubularv internally threaded portion I5 which receives a small boltV ing means and panel with respect to each other.

vThis arrangement provides what might be wardly extending notches I9 whereby to provide,v

a reduced portion'orneck 2l), as clearly illustrated in Figure 5. One extremity of the carrier 3' is provided with a generally rectangular recess 2l which receives the reduced portion 2!! of the Y continuation in a manner whereby the portionsally'rectangular oroblong'box, and includes a 55 22 of the carrier will be set within thevnotches spect to the switch casing, it is ymerely necessary 'to insert one extremity of the carrier with respect to the notches and .reduced portion 29, andA the notches 23 adjacent-the otherextremity of the carrier into registry with the iingersof the side walls 1', whereupon the fingers are spread apart to permanently lock the carrierin place.

'Ihe electrical connection means or contact means mounted on the carrier 3 will now be considered. Although the electrical connection means may be arranged in any desirable manner, the contact means herein illustrated are preferably secured to the-carrier in a unique manner; A

terminal post 25, adapted for connection to av battery, is secured to one extremity of the carrier 3 by means of arivet 26. A fuse clip ,21 is also preferably permanently secured to the terminal post 25, and to the carrier 3 by the rivetv 26. A fuse clip 28 is secured adjacent the opposite extremity of the carrier 3 by means of a'headed contact rivet 29. A fuse element is shown connected to the fuse clips 21 and 28. A terminal post 39, adapted for connection tofog lamps, is secured adjacent one side of the carrier by means of a headed contact rivet 32-and a terminal post 3| corresponding to the terminal post 3D, adapted for connection to the tail lamps of the automobile, is disposed adjacent the other side of the Vcarrier by means of a headed contact rivet 33. The postand clip 28,are preferably located along the longitudinal axis'ofv the carrier, and the posts 30 and 3| are disposed on opposite sides of the axis in,

a plane substantially at right angles thereto. VThe headed contactrivets 29, 32, and 33 are preferably equally spaced apart both radially and circumferentially, and are preferably provided with circular contact heads 34, as illustrated in Figure 2, which engage the inner face of the carrier 3.V 1

In order to provide a smooth track or surface over which the bridge means generally designated 5 may travel with respect to the headsA 34 vof the rivets, a spacer member 35 of'insulating material is preferably associated with the carrier 3, and

provided with circular recesses receiving the heads'V same manner as the carrier 3 is held in relation thereto.

The operating means and bridge means 5 associated therewith will now be described. This operating means `is preferably made in the form of an insulating member including, a knurled knob portion 36 which is ror tatably received within the aperture l0 provided in the front wall 6 of the switch casing. The inner-I extremity of the operating means'is. pref-V erably provided withl an enlargedigenerally an-l generally designated 4,'

' metal plate. Each extremity of this plate is provided with a laterally or upwardly extending tongue 40, which tongues are slidably received in thenotches 38 provided adjacent the inner extremity of 'the operating means 4. A helical v'spring 4| is disposed within the well or recess 39 of the means 4, andv functions to Vurge the operat- ,ing means outwardly, and at rthe same time presses the bridge means 5 rearwardly, or in a direction toward the'various contacts mounted on the carrier r3. The contact plate is provided with a plurality of rounded contact portions 42, 43, and 44 which project outwardly from the plate in a direction opposite to that of the tongues 40. 'As clearly illustrated in Figure 3, the contact portion 42 is provided adjacent one corner of the plate and the contact portion 43 adjacent the other corner of the plate, saidcontact portions being arranged on one side of the longitudinal axis of' the plate. The side of the plateopposlte that side having the contact portions 42 and 43, is preferably provided with an integral generally triangular offset portion 4,4. The contact portion 43 is provided adjacent the free extremity of this offset portion. The contact portions 42, 43, and 44 are preferably equally spaced apart both radially and circumferentially to anextent corresponding to that of the contact rivets 29, 32, and 33. Y

Means are provided forlimiting or predetermining the extent to which the operating means 4 may be rotated, and this ispreferably accomplished by providing the enlargement 31 of theV means 4, with a flat 4,5. and a flat 46 as clearly illustrated in Figure l. When the flat is in engagement with the inner surface ofthe side wall 1 as shown .in Figure l, the contact portions 42 through 440i the bridge means 5 are in engagement with the spacer member 35 of insulating material; in other words the portions are out of engagement with the contact heads 34 of the rivet contacts 29, 32, and 33 as illustrated in Figure 3 to place the switch in open circuit position. However, when the operating means is rotated so that the at 43 thereof engages the opposite side wall 1, the contact portions 42, 43, and 44 will engage the contact heads 34 of the contact rivets 33, 32, and 29, respectively, to place the switch in circuit closingr position. In circuit closing position the current will pass from the battery terminal 25, through the yfuse element connected to the fuse clips 21 and 28, to the rivet contacts 29, and through the contact plateor bridge means 5, the terminal posts 30 and 3|, whereby to control fog lamps and tail lamps, Ior other electrical apparatus associated with an automotive vehicle, airplane or the like.

In view of the foregoing description, it will be apparent that improved means integral with the switch casing have been provided whereby the switch maybe easily and quickly assembled or connected with 'respect' to a support. vIt will also be evident that improvedmeans have been pro' i vided whereby the contactrcarri'er of a switch may be easily and quickly assembled with respect thereto, including a `unique arrangement of the electrical connection means associated with the contact carrier.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various modiiications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of the invention; and, therefore, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact forms, constructions, arrangements, and combination of parts herein shown and described.

I claim:

1. A switch casing including; a substantially vertical front wall, top, bottom, and side walls extending rearwardly from said front wall; a carrier carrying contacts secured to said casing in a plane parallel to said front wall; switch mechanism in said casing; anopening provided in said front wall receiving means for operating said mechanism; said top wall having an integral continuation including, a portion extending rearwardly substantially parallel to said bottom wall, an upwardly curved portion, and a portion extending forwardly in spaced apart parallel relation with respect to said top wall whereby to provide a bifurcation adapted to receive a support; and means carried by the forwardly extending portion for securing the switch to the support.

2. An electric switch including, a casing, a contact carrier carrying contacts carried by said casing, switch mechanism arranged in said casing, means for operating said mechanism, said casing being provided With bracket means whereby to secure the switch with respect to a support, said bracket means having a reduced portion, and said carrier having a notch receiving said reduced portion whereby to assist in securing said carrier with respect to said casing.

3. An electric switch including, a switch casing, a contact carrier carrying contacts carried by said casing, switching mechanism arranged in said casing, means for operating said mechanism, said casing being provided with means for securing the switch with respect to a support, said means being provided with an opening, and a portion of said carrier projecting into said opening whereby to assist in securing the carrier with respect to said casing.

4. An electric switch including, a switch casing, a relatively nat carrier of insulating material supporting contacts carried by said casing, switching mechanism arranged in said casing, means for operating said mechanism, said carrier having a marginal substantially rectangular recess, said casing having a projection substantially rectangular in cross-section projecting into said recess, the free extremity of said projection being deformed to increase the width of the projection in a manner whereby to distort the end walls of the recess in a manner whereby said carrier is held in relation to said switch casing.

5. An electric switch including, a switch easing, a carrier of insulating material supporting contacts carried by said casing, switch mechanism arranged in said casing, means for operating said mechanism, said carrier having an opening, said casing having a projection of a predetermined cross-section projecting into said opening, the free extremity of said projection being deformed to increase the size of the projection in a manner whereby to distort certain walls of the opening in a manner whereby said carrier is held in relation to said switch casing.

THOMAS W. DRURY. 

